East Michigan News

Eastern Michigan University alumnus Kyle Rodes has joined fellow golfers Cam Kellett and Beau Breault in pursuing a spot in the U.S. Open. Rodes secured fifth place with a score of 69 at Eagle Creek Golf & Country Club in Naples, Florida, on May 15.

The path to the 124th U.S. Open Championship at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club's Course No. 2 has seen thousands of competitors participate in 109 local qualifiers across the United States and Canada. The next stage involves a 36-hole final qualifying round at ten U.S. sites and three international locations scheduled for May 20 and June 3.

The USGA received a record-breaking 10,187 entries for the championship at The Los Angeles (Calif.) Country Club this year, surpassing the previous record of 10,127 set for the 2014 championship held at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club's Course No. 2.

Eligibility requires players to have a Handicap Index® not exceeding 0.4 or to be professionals.

Historically, Ken Venturi (1964) and Orville Moody (1969) are notable for winning the U.S. Open after advancing through both local and final stages of qualification. Other winners who advanced through final qualifying include Gene Littler (1961), Julius Boros (1963), Jerry Pate (1976), Steve Jones (1996), Michael Campbell (2005), and Lucas Glover (2009).

Several champions have made it to the U.S. Open by progressing through both local and final qualifying during their careers, such as David Graham, Lou Graham, Hale Irwin, Tony Jacklin, Lee Janzen, Tom Kite, Johnny Miller, Corey Pavin, Curtis Strange, Lee Trevino, Gary Woodland, and Fuzzy Zoeller.

Pinehurst Resort & Country Club's Course No. 2 has hosted previous U.S. Opens in years including 1999 with Payne Stewart as champion; Michael Campbell won there in 2005; Martin Kaymer triumphed in 2014; it is also slated to host future championships in years like 2029 and beyond.